A princess in disguise is forced to live with a rogue in order to protect her from danger in this fun, sexy regency romance from Kate Bateman. In The Princess and the Rogue, Bow Street agent Sebastien Wolff, Earl of Mowbray, doesn’t believe in love–until a passionate kiss with a beautiful stranger in a brothel forces him to reconsider. When the mysterious woman is linked to an intrigue … linked to an intrigue involving a missing Russian princess, however, Seb realizes her air of innocence was too good to be true.
Princess Anastasia Denisova has been hiding in London as plain ‘Anna Brown’. With a dangerous traitor hot on her trail, her best option is to accept Wolff’s offer of protection–and accommodation–at his gambling hell. But living in such close quarters, and aiding Wolff in his Bow Street cases, fans the flames of their mutual attraction. If Anya’s true identity is revealed, does their romance stand a chance? Could a princess ever marry a rogue?
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3.5/5
Final in a trilogy (I’ve read the second one too) and only the second book I’ve read from Bateman. While overall a good story with a couple of original scenes for a historical romance, I found it pretty much par for the course as far as predictability.
Russian Princess Anya is incognito as she flees from France to London from a villain. Earl Sebastien Wolff, as a favor to his great aunt, protects Anya at his gaming hall. Hijinks and love ensue. Just OK for me.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for providing me the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.
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Humor: Yes, a touch
Should I read in order?
You could. There’s a bit of page time with the prior heroes and heroines in the series, but I do think this one works fine as a stand alone.
Basic plot:
Princess Anya has lost her family and brother and now has people attempting to control her life in Russia. Facing kidnapping and death, she escapes to London. Eighteen months later, she finds the threats have followed her to England’s shores. Sebastien can not only use her help in his investigation, but protect her as well.
Give this a try if you want:
– 1816 time period (most of this story takes place in London)
– Ex-Soldier hero who is now a bow street runner and Russian princess heroine
– A bit of a body guard trope feel – Sebastien keeps Anya at the Tricorn – his gambling club he founded with his 2 friends Benjamin and Alex (the prior heroes in the series)
– Mid steam – there are 2 full length (amazing!) scenes and some kisses
– Plenty of danger and intrigue as Anya fights for her safety and independence in London
– Gives feels of an Anastasia Romanov retelling
My thoughts:
There was a lot I really enjoyed about this story! My daughter went through a phase where she watched Princess Anastasia cartoons non stop and I always loved them. This book had a lot of fun historical tidbits including lots of Russian traditions and superstitions, and little things like how the first pelicans came to England (I never knew!)
Anya is a survivor and this book really is her story. A lot of it is from her perspective and her character feels much deeper than Sebastien’s. She’s been sheltered so much of her life, then she was thrown into turmoil where survival was her only concern. Now she’s at a point where she wants to explore a bit of what life has to offer, and Sebastien can show her that.
Sebastien has permanent hearing loss on one side from a cannon blast at Waterloo from when he was in the Rifles, but it’s not a major plot point (mentioned a few times). He’s really cynical about life and love. Their relationship has a touch of enemies to lovers feel, though I’m not sure I would label it that. They just have a lot of back and forth banter and feeling each other out. They are both strong characters so it’s them finding their balance with each other.
What made me struggle with this book was I thought the start was extremely slow. They do have to set up quite a bit with her heritage and background, coming from another country and the danger she faced. But…it was 11% before they even meet and then they only have a very short interaction together (that was nice 😉 ) and then it was 20% more before they are together again. I don’t think this will bother most people, but I do tend to get antsy if the main characters aren’t together much in the beginning. Once they are together it gets better, but I feel like they also spend a lot of time circling each other and having internal thoughts about each other and not actually interacting. That combined with the various danger factors left me wanting more THEM time.
But when they are together it’s amazing. These scenes were some of the hottest I’ve read in awhile and I really, REALLY loved them. One thing I really loved was in a scene where they were drinking Russian vodka and she starts to get tipsy, he pauses them from going any further. I’m not against drunk intimacy at all, but I don’t love it for the first time together.
Content Warnings:
Attempted sexual assault – villain kisses and gropes heroine and she has to fight back
Talk of feigning suicide for safety
Death of family members ( remembered)
Death of villains – shot (on page)
Loved this story!
Such a fun story! I’m a big fan of historical fiction, and Bateman always delivers for me. Anya is such a fantastic and strong woman. She has been through so much in her past as a Russian princess. Because the world has deemed her dead, she is now able to hide in plain sight and have an absolute dream of a life. Unfortunately when her past comes back to haunt her, she has some new choices to make which fortunately for us involve a roguish rake.
She’s a princess in hiding. He’s 1/3 owner of a very lucrative gaming hell. They meet in a brothel. He’s attracted to her but knows she’s too good for him. She just has to prove to him that he’s the one she wants…. I received an advance copy of this book from the author for my reading enjoyment.
***A Literary Masterpiece***
I must confess the title for some reason turned me off. When I finally started to read this book, I realized the old saying “never judge a book by its cover” really applies here. This story is fantastic, mesmerizing, suspenseful, dangerous, steamy and romantic. It is refreshing to read a story that is not all fluff and blissful. I really had the wrong impression of this book. From the very beginning there is drama, tension, fear, threats and an abundance of determination by the heroine to overcome all obstacles. From Russian to Paris to London Princess Anastasia ran from a man who was a traitor and was going to force her to marry him so she could not testify against him. Count Petrov eventually found out she was in London and had come with the delegation to London. When he tried to have her kidnapped her employer’s grandnephew came to her rescue. In a grand scheme of matchmaking the Dowager put her nephew as security for Anya. Sebastian is the proverbial bachelor decidedly against marriage. After spending time with Anya, she moved him intellectually, emotionally and physically. He did not realize he was falling in love until it seemed too late. Petrov successfully abducted Anya and Seb had to rescue her. This is a simplistic review but the book is so much more. It is realistic and it was easy to relate to the characters. The personalities of all the characters were as diverse as one can get. It made for excellent dialogue and reading. It is a must read and I highly recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I Loved It! The Princess and the Rogue takes off right from the start and will keep you spellbound from the moment you begin this fast paced journey with Princess Anastasia (Anna Brown) and Sebastien Wolff as a game of cat and mouse with a traitor who is after Princess Anastasia in this action-packed rollercoaster ride. With appearances from characters from the previous novels, since they’re family now, you are able to catch up with them. Kate Bateman has given readers a book that is well-written, filled it with great cast of characters that come off the pages and pull you into this emotional ride that keeps you involved until the very end, witty dialogue and with a strong plot that bring this read together perfectly! Anastasia and Sebastian travel on a heartfelt journey as both try to come to terms with falling in this love with one another in this romance filled with drama, searing passion, danger, surprising twists, turmoil and as the suspense builds and tensions escalate with uncertainties abound that will keep you entralled from the beginning to the end in this outstanding story!
A Russian Princess and a Bow Street Bachelor (yes I love them!) seem an unlikely pair, in this new addition to this fabulous series! What could be better?
Princess Anya, had been in Paris when she got word of her brother’s death. The next she knew, a devious russian, Vasili Petrov was at her door going to force her to marry him for her inheritance.. Plus she had information on him of his nefarious activities of a traitor. Barely escaping his clutches she and her friend Elizaveta make their way to England.
Anya obtains a job as companion to the Dower Duchess of Winwick and on her free time she occasionally helps the girls next door with their reading and writing. On one such visit, Anya is mistaken as a lady of the evening (I did tell you it was a high class brothel next door?) and she was kissed by a man who wanted her company. Oh yes and what a kiss it was! Then she finds out who he is… The Duchess’s nephew, Sebastien!
Then the story takes off! A swoon worthy hero, a heroine trying to evade the man out to force her to wed him, a sizzling attraction, Trust me, once you start you will be hooked!
This is the third in this exciting and romantic series about three former soldiers who opened a gambling club, called the Tricorn, after the hat that they wore as members of the Rifles and not to be bored, they also work for Bow Street. This historical series is packed with intrigue, adventure, danger and unexpected romance for three men who do not believe in love, or at least not for themselves.
When Bow Street agent Sebastien Wolff, Earl of Mowbray, first meets Anya Brown, he thinks she is a prostitute, since he sees her at a brothel, Haye’s, and tries to buy her services. Little does he know that she is actually Russian Princess Anastasia Denisova, who fled Paris after hearing of the death of her brother, Dmitry, at Waterloo, to escape the advances of a traitor, Vasili Petrov, who had already been refused her hand. She lives next door with her life-long companion and teaches the women next door how to read. She is also working as a companion for Wolff’s aunt, when the carriage that they are traveling in is stopped and Russian kidnappers try to grab her. But Seb comes to the rescue in the nick of time, hiding her away at the Tricorn, where they become obsessed with each other. Very well written romance adventure.
I read an ARC from NetGalley.com and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.
The Princess and the Rogue is the third book in the Bow Street Bachelors and my favorite to date! (I am hoping we see a few more with some of the side characters!) This book can definitely be read as a standalone, and you will not be lost at all. However, if you want to see Seb’s friends fall hard, then you want to read the others as well.
I really enjoyed this novel. It was fun, flirty, and even had a bit of a mystery thrown in as well.
Anya and Seb got off to a rocky start when they run into each other in a brothel. Seb tries to buy her for the night, and Anya refuses — but not before a heated kiss. The chemistry between them is electric from the start. Their encounters filled with tension. I loved watching them let their guards down and give in to their feelings. And the mystery surrounding the secrets that Anya kept had me flipping those pages to see how it all turned out.
I can’t wait to read more by this author.
Another excellent, very well written Bow Street adventure. This series just gets better, this my new favorite and maintains the captivation and exhilaration of the stern, stubborn and protective bachelors. Both characters are very like-able and I enjoyed their antics. The Princess is very clever, resilient, independent, determined and resourceful which also describes the Rogue he’s just more experienced. Their emotion is so explosive that it jumps off the pages, embraces and leaves you with a big smile of happiness. All of the supporting characters are hilarious and the traditions are…. informative. From beginning to end, I was enthralled.
The Princess and the Rogue was a phenomenal read and my favorite book in the Bow Street Bachelors series.
Russian Princess Anastasia Denisova has been hiding in London under an assumed name for months, on the run from a traitor who will do anything to find her. After a chance encounter with Sebastien Wolff, Earl of Mowbray, Anya accepts his protection after the person she’s running from begins to close in. But living so closely together at Wolff’s gambling hell is doing nothing to discourage the attraction that blazes between them. With Anya’s enemies closing in, will their romance have a chance?
Anya is a smart woman who is perfectly capable of taking care of herself. After the death of her brother, Anya was forced to flee after a traitor to her country plans to force her to become his wife. Anya’s plan was well thought out and I admired her ability to change things on the fly when she encountered unexpected obstacles. Sebastien is a war veteran whose service to the crown granted him his title as well as a position at Bow Street where, due to his status, he can take on unique investigations. Seb is a confident man who knows what he wants in life and how to go about getting it.
Anya and Sebastien’s romance doesn’t get off to a great start due to a series of misunderstandings. The pair’s first meeting is in a brothel where Seb assumes Anya is a working girl and tries to offer her obscene amounts of money when she refuses his advances. After that Sebastien finds out Anya works for his great aunt and assumes she’s a scam artist. Once Anya is under Sebastien’s protection and the two live together at Sebastien’s gambling hell, the pair’s relationship drastically improves. Their banter is fantastic and the chemistry between them is off the charts. The steamy scenes are very well done but I do wish there were a few more of them. I thought the final confrontation with the person chasing Anya was well done and I liked the surprises the author added at the end.
Overall The Princess and the Rogue was a fantastic book and I highly recommend this series if you’re looking for some great historical romances to read. I’m looking forward to seeing what the author puts out next.
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
There is no secret that I love pretty covers. I started this series thanks to the covers, and I’m so very glad that the stories were as good if not better! Also, this is my favorite story of the 3 and I can’t wait to see what else Ms Bateman will write.
This is the story of the last of the three friends, Sebastian the Earl of Mowbray. He’s bored out of his mind since is friends married and moved from the club all three of them own. Both of them keep trying to convince him to marry, but he’s adamantly opposed. Here enters Anya, aka Anastasia a princes on the run. Their 1st meeting is my favorite from the whole series, especially the way she kind of left him speechless(and more).
The book also has a good suspense plot with an evil prince and spies and a lot of other stuff that I won;t spoil for you. Ms Bateman wrote wonderful characters and I loved seeing the relationship between the tow of them develop. I also loved seeing the characters from the first and second book and all the new secondary characters.
If you’re in the mood for a suspenseful story filled with banter and heart, you should totally read this book. It’s not mandatory to have read books 1 and 2, though it would enhance the experience.
Fun Regency Romp
Fun and sassy characters, interesting storyline, and lots of steam. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.
This is the story of Sebastien Wolff, Earl of Mowbray, Bow Street agent, and grouchiest of the trio of friends who own the Tricorn club and Anastasia Denisova, Russian princess in hiding and companion to the Dowager Duchess of Winwick, Seb’s aunt. Hooked by their hilarious first meeting, I loved watching the two of them come to terms with each other. There is instant attraction and great chemistry. There are also lots of secrets, mostly on Anya’s part. We have a truly nasty villain in Petrov. Couples from the other books in the series are joined by a feisty lady’s maid, a friendly Madam, a fussy French Chef, and Mickey. The story is fast paced and exciting, full of danger, drama kidnapping, and rescue, with a large side of romance, and a couple of surprises. The marriage “tests” for Seb are a hoot. This is a really good story. I enjoyed and recommend it.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.
Anya ran from Paris to London to escape a villain who wants to force her into marriage and suddenly ends up under Seb’s protection. Unaware of who she really is, he seduces her and takes her virginity. Danger is lurking and it eventually finds her. The story is beautifully written with strong H/h characters full of romance, danger and an unexpected surprise. I enjoyed the story and would highly recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and are voluntarily leaving a review.
I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an advance reader copy of this story.
The Princess And The Rogue, by Kate Bateman, is available in booksellers on 12-29-2020. We’ve come to book 3 of 3 in A Bow Street Bachelors series. I thought all 3 of the gentlemen leads were likeable characters but in book 3 we have a great guy, confirmed bachelor, and a princess in hiding. That’s exciting and an enjoyable twist. That Anya manages to survive as well as she has on her own is admirable. Of course some of the story begs you suspend your sense of belief. Anya has had too easy of a time, I don’t think she’d be living next to a brothel. Working at it maybe. Anyway, I’m glad she didn’t, it would have marred an enjoyable read.
#KateBateman #BowStreetBachelors #ThePrincessandtheRogue #netgalley #romance #historicalromance #StMartin’sPaperbacks
A princess in hiding and a dashing gaming hall owner are the focus of The Princess and the Rogue, the third book in The Bow Street Bachelors series. Sebastien, a consummate bachelor, has sworn he’ll never fall in love and tie himself to one woman. Between owning a popular gaming hall and investigating a murder with Russian connections, he doesn’t have time for love. However, when he heads to the local brothel, he is quickly enchanted with Anya, the mysterious and beguiling woman he meets there.
Anya is actually Anastasia Denisova, a princess in hiding. After the death of her brother at the Battle of Waterloo, Anya is pursued by the dastardly Vasili, whose violent and evil intentions force her to fake her own death and flee. Anya suspects Vasili is a traitor to Russia, and Vasili knows if he marries her, she can’t speak out against him. After a year of evading Vasili, it seems as if Anya’s past has finally come back to haunt her.
After Sebastien rescues her from a potential kidnapping, he determines to keep her safe. Can the princess trust Sebastien to protect her from her past? And how will Sebastien react when he knows the truth of her identity?
Anya is a strong, resilient, and resourceful woman who evades the evil clutches of Vasili by selling her diamonds and gaining employment under a pseudonym. She works hard and lives frugally, a sharp contrast from her life as a princess, and no one suspects her true identity. I love Anya! She is clever, brave, and selfless, even when faced with frightening and dangerous situations. I like her gumption and her survival instinct. In this way, she and Sebastien are very much alike.
The romance between Anya and Sebastien is lovely. It is clear from the start that this couple is drawn to each other, and their chemistry is palpable. I love their passionate and humorous banter, as well as their determination to resist falling for each other. This makes for an interesting romance and plot and two dynamically developed characters that compliment each other well. It also leads to some sizzling, romantic scenes, and an awesomely satisfying conclusion.
Sebastien, a war veteran, is not quick to trust, and he knows that Anya is hiding her identity, among other things. Anya, trying to avoid any connection to her past, is reluctant to divulge her secrets. However, Anya and Sebastien, both accustomed to being independent, eventually show their vulnerable sides when together. This is particularly difficult for them as they both hide behind the walls they’ve built. Anya fears an abusive and violent marriage to Vasili, and Sebastien fears falling in love and losing his independence. I love how they slowly let their guard down, ignore social expectations and demands, and follow their hearts.
I also enjoyed the integration of popular Russian fairy tales, superstitions, and sayings, as well as the references to Shakespeare, other popular poets, and historical events that influenced the people in the story. These allusions add depth to the characters, setting, and plot and immerse the reader into the culture of that time period.
A wonderful addition to the Bow Street Bachelors series, The Princess and the Rogue is a well-paced and well-developed historical romance. Though it can be read as a standalone, I am definitely going back to read the first two in the series. The character development and interesting plot, as well as the epic romance, make this a memorable read! Thanks so much to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Paperbacks for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
The Princess and the Rogue turned out to be the perfect pickup read for the weekend. Sweet and steamy, the book was the perfect combination of spitfire heroine and swoon-worthy rogue to keep the pages flipping way past my bedtime. Princess Anastasia Denisova and her companion fled to London on word of her brother’s death and the attempted forced marriage from scoundrel Petrov. Working as a lady’s companion to the Earl of Mowbray’s great aunt, Anya manages to meet the Earl in a brothel for the first time. Sebastien Wolff, Earl of Mowbray, gambling hell owner, and Bow Street runner, knows that Anya is hiding something but her kisses drive him mad. The story becomes a wild ride of passion as Seb’s and Anya’s HEA is hard fought and danger ridden. Excellent characters and a charming tale will place this book firmly on my to be re-read shelf and adding the author’s other books on my to be read list. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.
Loved Sebastian’s story!! We follow Anna Brown aka Princess Anastasia Denisova as she flees from danger, faking her death and starting a new life for herself in England. As Anna and Seb are thrown together they try to unravel the mystery surrounding a bow street case and Anna’s past.
The chemistry between the two is intense and deep. I love the way the author slowly builds the relationship between the two of them until it is all encompassing. The way things came to a head and were resolved was fast paced and wrapped up all loose ends tidily. I can’t wait to see read more from this author. Her writing flows well and is engaging from the first word. If you love historical romance with a dash of mystery and intrigue you’ll love this.